🌍 London to Paris – COP31 Cycle Relay || Seven Days for Everyday Cycling and a Greener Planet 🚴♀️🌱
What started as a simple bike ride to advocate for better cycling infrastructure turned into an extraordinary journey of broken spokes, unexpected friendships, and the kind of hospitality that restores your faith in humanity. Armed with determination, a drum kit (yes, really), and an optimistic disregard for ferry timetables, our motley crew of cyclists embarked on a 7-day adventure that proved cycling advocacy is best served with a generous side of chaos and croissants.
Day 1 – London to East Grinstead
We rolled out from Parliament Square with bikes immediately reminding us who’s boss: broken spokes, busted tubes and rebellious chains – all rescued by superb Anna 🔧. Ben (14) and Luna (15) smashed the miles, while Sayomi jumped back into bikepacking after years away 💪. Thai food, country side views and a sauna at Sunny Side campsite set the tone, ending with music, laughter and new friends at the Old Dunnings Mill pub – plus sad goodbyes to Izzy, Anna and Sophie.
Day 2 – East Grinstead to Brighton ☀️
An early spin with Green councillor Georgia Taylor and her partner through Forest Row, complete with commitment letter and a dreamy community farm shop breakfast 🥐. The real beast was Ditchling Beacon – some cycled, some walked, some refused to stop (Elmer with drum kit + luggage and our young teens Luna & Ben, obviously 🚵♂️🔥). Just when we thought we were done, Jacob’s Ladder appeared: 150+ steps with 6 bikes, bags and a drum kit. We arrived at Chalky Downs exhausted but under huge skies and stars.
Day 3 – Brighton to Dieppe (via Newhaven) ⛴️🌙
Councillor Trevor showed us new cycle paths, Bricycles volunteers and our very dear host Vanessa led us to Newhaven, and then… the ferry went on strike for 8 hours ⏳. We responded by turning the port into a festival: Diego’s Tai Chi, Elmer’s tango, live drumming and an impromptu drum lesson for a young boy 🥁. A late 7pm departure meant a magical 36km night ride on an old railway path under a nearly full moon, finishing with unexpected police questions at 2am and, thanks to Diego and Vanessa, soft beds instead of a dark campsite.
Day 4 – Neufchâtel-en-Bray to Beauvais 🚴♂️🥐
Boulangerie breakfast, then back on the greenway as Vanessa headed for her ferry home. Dominique and Charlotte joined the crew, and a Glaswegian café owner made Martin feel like he’d cycled back to Scotland ☕️. Sayomi's broken spoke initiated the great luggage redistribution project, and four silent Beau Velo riders secretly guided us to the Eco Space. We were welcomed by the mayor, journalists, an incredible locally cooked meal and the most glamorous compost toilet in France (chandelier included 💎🚽), not far from Beauvais’ tallest towering cathedral.
Day 5 – Beauvais to Senlis 🐝🎶
After a calm 10 minute meditation, Etienne led us to Beau Velo – €8 a year for repairs and community magic. An architect fixed Sayomi’s wheel while we fuelled up on croissants, delicious local jam and Diego’s Tai Chi routine 🥐🧘. In Pont Sainte Maxence, the deputy mayor of transport handed over commitment letters, and Wolfgang from Senlis rode with us to Charlotte’s beautiful home with a Roman amphitheatre view and busy bees. That night, at the community hub, Elmer played a 2 hour gig with local musicians – we were fed, serenaded and completely blown away by the generosity. We were inspired by the story of Colin who started the community hub – Au Tiers Lieu which runs a lot of environmental projects and is a space for people to connect.
Day 6 – Senlis to Triel-sur-Seine 🔥
We left Charlotte’s garden at 8:30, grabbed breakfast in Chantilly and passed the magnificent stables before Olivier joined the ride 🐎. As the day heated up, the group gradually shrank, leaving just six of us to battle the hottest and toughest stage. We cut the route short, hunted shade, chased the campsite closing time and rolled in with 5 minutes to spare ⏰. The evening ended with a hard earned meal and deep conversations about the state of the world and why rides like this matter.
Day 7 – Triel-sur-Seine to Paris 🇫🇷🎉
On the final day (for most of us – Elmer just kept going!), Alex Chi and Nathalie guided us towards Paris and we linked up with Isabelle and Luc from local cycling federation along the way. Bernadette joined us closer to Paris, who has been cycling Paris’ streets for 50 years 🚲💪. A big welcoming group and the deputy mayor of transport rode with us to the Mayor’s office, where the Mayor handed over the commitment letter and gave us a tour of city assembly. The journey ended perfectly at L'Académie du climat with a COP30 film screening and a beautiful live jazz set from Elmer, Patrice and friends. 🎷
✨ Across 7 days, more than 35 people joined the relay – teenagers, veterans, campaigners, drummers, councillors and everyday riders – all united by a simple idea: cycling should be safe and normal for everyone 🚴♀️🚴♂️. While wildfires burned across Europe, our small peloton carried letters, stories and hope from city to city. Huge thanks to everyone who hosted, fixed bikes, played music, shared food, or rode even one kilometre with us – you turned a ride into a movement. ❤️🌍🚲